Ayn Rand's Anthem and Equality

﻿Kimberly Shliff
J. Pauley
Honors Grammar, Period 6
18 March 2013
Equality and the Garden of EdenIn Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem, Rand describes an individual living in a society that excludes a single person’s worth and stresses the idea that self-reference is wrong. In the biblical telling of “Genesis,” Adam and Eve are placed in the Garden of Eden with only each other as company. Rather than a society that forbids self-awareness, they are not even given the ability to think of themselves. They are not even aware that they are naked. Both societies also see intelligence as a sin. Adam and Equality are both condemned for these “sins” and punished. The two characters show similar qualities. Adam and Equality are condemned for the sins of self-reference and intelligence but come about the actions through very different ways.

Both stories imply that “sins” are committed by Adam and Eve and Equality 7-2521. Two prominent acts are self-reference and intelligence. In the biblical story of “Genesis,” Adam and Eve are created and sent to the Garden of Eden, which is a faultless place. They are immediately forbidden to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and bad. A serpent offers them the fruit and convinces them that they will not die but “God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” showing that God wants to keep the two from learning anything, and he basically strips any potential from them (Gen 3:5). In Equality’s society, the smartest men are pushed aside to become street sweepers and are punished for doing well in their lessons. Equality describes how “this is a great sin. To be born with a head which is too quick” proving that the society believes that intelligence is a danger (Rand 16). The leaders are keeping the most intelligent men from showing their own latent.

Another act deemed a “sin” in both societies is self-awareness. Equality 7-2521 is forbidden from even thinking about what...

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Sins and Transgressions
The society and government in which a person lives is one of the most influential factors for their religion, values and what is socially acceptable within the terms of society. In AynRand’sAnthem, the dystopian society’s government has a very prominent role in every citizen’s life. The council, the group of people who run the society, established many rules and ways of thinking towards appearance and lifestyle. In this society, being different is considered evil because the council engraved into the citizen’s heads that it is only socially acceptable to be one of the group. Prometheus, the main character, is individualized in the civilization as one of the smartest, tallest and most capable people. These characteristics resulted in rejection and outcast treatment from the council. Society perceives cleverness and height as a curse, consequentially living a life of sins and transgressions. To prevent citizens from stepping out of obedience and overthrowing their power, the leaders of this dystopian society maintain a negative connotation toward individuality.
Intelligence is not highly recognized in this society so as to sustain the control the council has over its citizens by manipulating the general population to have low intelligence. One of Prometheus’ main “sins” is that he is intellectually above all other citizens in the society. He is punished throughout his childhood for this transgression...

...﻿AynRand’s novel Anthem is about the main character Equality 7-2521 who struggles to live in a communist society. Equality is an intelligent and very ambitious person who dares to break the rules of The City. By following his heart, he discovers that he is worth a lot more than what he’s been taught. Once he and his love, Liberty 5-3000, break away from their toxic home land, they discovering the idea that individuality is more important than the collective “we”. In the woods, the two lovers find an abandoned house and they rename themselves Prometheus and Gaea. Ayn Rand chose these names because of how similar Equality and Liberty are to the mythological creatures.
Equality 7-2521 strongly resembles the Greek mythological creature, Prometheus, in many ways. They both are very different from their people. Prometheus was a titan who was nothing like the other titans. He fought to defeat his brothers so that the gods could rule. Likewise, Equality is obviously nothing like the people of his society as he was told earlier in the book. “‘There is evil -in your bones, Equality 7-2521, for your body has grown beyond the bodies of your brothers.’”* Prometheus is especially known for introducing fire to mankind, just as Equality planned to revolutionize the world with his light bulb. But when he introduced it to the Council,...

...Anthem, written by Ayn Rand in 1937, takes place in an ominous future. In a time when society becomes the great “We” and deprives men of their identities, knowledge, and freedom, one man stands alone. Equality 7-2521 had the audacity to go against the rules of the City Council. The story of Equality’s courage is similar to that of the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When God gave Adam and Eve the Garden of Eden he gave them one simple rule: “Thou shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”
In both the stories of Adam and Eve and Equality 7-2521, Adam and Equality were both condemned for sinful behaviors. Equality was condemned for seeking knowledge. Only those of the House of Scholars are to seek knowledge and Equality was appointed to the House of Street Sweepers. Adam on the other hand, was condemned for obtaining knowledge, although he did not seek it. The deceitful, cunning serpent used its mastered skill of persuasion on Eve and convinced her to eat an apple from the one tree God forbade Adam and Eve from eating from. Eve then persuaded Adam into eating the apple and all knowledge of good and evil was his.
Another similarity between Adam and Equality 7-2521 is the fact they both knew what the price of sinning was before they sinned. Equality knew that seeking knowledge, running off by himself, writing his thoughts...

...Ayn Rand, author of the novel Anthem, had the philosophical view of both a Romantic and a Realist. She states, "I am Romantic in the sense that I present men as they ought to be. I am a Realist in the sense that I place them here and now and on this earth." This quote implies that she portrays man in an idealistic sense, but she places her characters in a realistic world. Emigrating from the her home country of Russia into America, Rand was initially exposed to a somewhat technologically backwards society that discouraged the advancement of the individual. After settling in America, Rand found herself in a considerably more satisfying environment where a capitalist society existed in which technological and individual advancement was encouraged. This background led to AynRand's opinion of technology in Anthem; through the comparison of the despair of a technologically backward society and the happiness of an individual who steps forth from the conformity of that society, Rand makes the point that technology is a positive advancement.
In the first half of the novel, the totalitarian society in which the main character, Equality 7-2521, lives is depicted as very boring and monotonous, devoid from the comforts and luxuries of a technologically advanced society. Rand, a supporter of capitalism, portrays this philosophy by depicting Equality as dissatisfied and bored with the...

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Chapter 1
1. Anthem is based in a socialist society. Everyone is treated as equals. Nobody is allowed to think they are above anyone else. They all are given names that are followed by numbers so they have no identity. They are assigned jobs by the scholars. They have to do everything for their brothers. The scholars run everything. They have very little technology. They use candles and torches for lighting. They are not allowed to socialize with people outside of their work field. They also are not allowed to socialize with females. The only time they can socialize with females is at the City Palace of Mating. They hardly have a quality of life. They live for their brothers. Their education is limited. They are told everything in the world has already been discovered and nothing else exists beyond the walls of the cities.
I would not want to live in this kind of society. Your education is limited and you are told to be like everyone else. You do not have anything that separates you from the rest of society. They are told what to do and are put on strict schedules. If they misbehave they are lashed. Nobody should have to live in this type of society.
2. Men hardly reach the age of 45 because they have nothing to live for. Everyday they wake up and do the same thing. They also have very little technology and are limited on their education. So, if someone were to get sick, they would have no way to help them....

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The Ego
The book Anthem by Ayn Rand expresses the true meaning of the word “ego.” The definition says its meaning but the story itself shows it with actions. Ego means the self aspect of an individual that thinks, forms values, and makes judgments. In Anthem it refers to the need individuals have to be liberated from collectivism, free to use their own minds and express individual uniqueness. This word has a lot to do with the book and the purpose of the story. It recounts to it in many ways, since this is the story’s main focus. Ego relates to the book Anthem because it is the theme, and is the lesson we readers learn from it.
Equality the main character of Anthem is our guided road to egoism. He is the one that leads the readers to understand the reasons his society is in need of ego. He goes after the solutions and takes dangerous risks as well. The world in which they live is so miserable, they are basically treated like robots. Equality felt like he needed to do something about it, that he needed to recover the ego that got lost in the web of dystopian inhumanities. There is where we see the relation between “ego” and the book. The whole reason why there is a problem in the story is because...

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Ayn Rand, the author of Anthem, uses the house of the Unmentionable Times to illuminate the
eyes of the protagonist, Equality 7-2521. The house symbolizes individuality and more of an
understanding of the enriching past before the nuclear holocaust. Not only is the house of the
Unmentionable Times a relic from the past but also an encyclopedia to Equality 7-2521. The
house contains new utensils which the characters are not familiar with, such as the mirrors, the
number of rooms and past occupants, and the precious manuscripts in the library. The new found
items open doors into the “New World” for Equality and Liberty 5-3000, symbolizing that
individuality is more significant than the society.
As the house of the past is explored The Golden one discovers her reflection and beauty,
which she had never laid eyes on before. The Golden One is intrigued by her splendor, reflecting
upon what the society forbade by law to do. The mirror has a deeper connotation than her
reflection, it represents individuality. In chapter 10 The Golden one is mesmerized by the new
found glass,” We did this work alone, for no words of ors could take the Golden One away from
the big glass which is not glass. They stood before it and they looked and looked upon their own
body.” The Golden one is mesmerized by herself, realizing individuality and not being part of a
society.
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...Anthem by Ayn Rand is a political satire that makes one appreciate how fortunate the citizens of a country with so many freedoms, like America, are. Freedoms to choose one’s own destiny and explore the untouched frontiers of the scientific world are gifts that should never be, but often are, taken for granted. Rand’s bold novel that pokes fun at the stringent laws of communism reveals that her own political stance would be greatly supported by the first and second amendments and the policies regarding having children in America.
The mockery that Ayn Rand makes of the dystopia in her novel gives helpful clues as to what her own political views are. It appears that Rand believes in complete individual freedoms and a largely hands free government. Rand is against collectivism and believes that the government should accommodate the unique needs and desires of every citizen. Each person should feel a strong sense of identity that shares no connection with the government. The advancement of technology and new knowledge are positive for the best interests of society. It seems Rand would agree with the idea that people should act on any rational or irrational desires to achieve their highest potential of personal happiness. It is human nature to desire individuality and to feel accomplished because of “The word which can never die on this earth, for it is the heart of it and the meaning and the glory. The sacred word:...